Travelling with pets

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Some countries allow passengers to carry with them pets such as dogs, cats and birds as check-in baggage. Passengers travelling with pets are responsible for providing all documents required by local government offices (i.e. health certificate and travel permits for the pets). For Hong Kong regulatory information regarding live animal transition, please refer to Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. For import/export/transit regulations of a particular country, please refer to IATA Travel Centre (Choose your destination from the dropdown list under Customs, Currency & Airport information Section), and IATA Traveller’s Pets Corner.

Passengers travelling with service animals can access more information in our Service Animal section.

Unaccompanied pets or pets not acceptable as check-in baggage must be shipped through cargo. For more details, please contact our Cargo Sales Offices.

Unacceptable Pets

Please be informed that Cathay Pacific does not accept the following types of animals either as check-in baggage or cargo carriage:

Brachycephalic (snub-nosed, short snout or flat face) animals, including Brachycephalic dogs and cats:

Preparations for Travelling With Your Pets

Reservations

Please contact our local reservations office at least 48 hours before departure to confirm the acceptance of your pet to your flight booked.

Your pet cannot be through checked to interline connection unless all participating airline(s) have confirmed acceptance of the pet as interline baggage at the time the reservation is made, and provided that your pet is in crate or container conforming to the IATA Live Animals Regulations

Please provide the following information when making your reservation:

Type of pet, e.g. dog, cat etc.

Total weight of the pet and its container

Dimentions of the container

Material and make of the pet container, e.g. solid fibreglass, rigid plastic or metal with strong weld metal mesh which has sufficient ventilation pores etc.

Pet Container Requirement

Please note that we do not provide pet containers at airports. Passengers travelling with pets are responsible for preparing containers for their pets, and should make sure the containers are lockable, escape proof, leak proof and clean. Pet containers that do not comply with our Pet Container Requirement are subject to refusal of carriage.

Dogs must be put in pet container made of either solid fibreglass, rigid plastic, or metal with strong weld metal mesh.

Dogs must not be put in wooden containers (including plywood, hardwood, fibreboard, wickerwork and latticed wood).

Cats can be carried in wooden containers.

Animal container must be equipped with food tray and water bottle/container. Food tray and water bottle/container must be either fixed inside or attached to the animal container.

If total journey is longer than 12 hours, passengers must supply backup water.

The container must allow the animal to stand, turn around and lie down in a natural manner and has sufficient pores for breathing.

The requirements for container dimensions are as follows:

Other tips can be found on Traveller’s Pet Corner at the website of International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Index

A. From the tip of the nose to the root of the tail

B. From the elbow to the ground

C. The width of the dog at the widest point

D. From the floor to the tip of the ears or the top of the head, whichever is higher. Ears must not touch the top of the kennel when animal standing naturally

Calculation of kennel's dimension

A + ½ B=Length

C X 2=Width

D=Height

It is also advised that before coming to the airport, passengers should prepare their own straps and properly tie the container as shown below. This is to prevent accidental burst open of the container.

On The Day Of Departure

Please follow the checklist below to get your pet prepared for the trip:

Present the original copies of your pet’s relevant certificates and documents at our check-in counters.

Place a piece of your pet’s favourite toy in the container for pacification purpose during the flight if needed.

Make sure that your pet is healthy and fit for travel.

Feed and hydrate your pet properly prior to departure.

Procedures at Airports

Please check-in 3 hours before the scheduled departure time of your flight to allow our staff sufficient time to complete the formalities and to transport your pet to the flight. Please present your pet documents in originals (refer to IATA Travel Centre) to our check-in staff for verification. Prior to loading onto our aircraft, your pet will be placed in a staging area.

Your pet will be loaded into the cargo bulk compartment of the aircraft. Flight crew will make arrangements for suitable temperature and ventilation in the cargo compartment.

At destination, your pet will be handled as special baggage and delivered to you as soon as possible upon arrival.

Baggage Charges for Pets

Passenger’s free baggage allowance will not apply to pets carried as check-in baggage. Baggage charges will be levied for pets as follows:

Weight system – for all locations EXCEPT the Americas, point-to-point flights between Hong Kong and New Zealand and point to point flights between Hong Kong and Qatar

Baggage charges for carriage of an accompanied pet will be assessed on the basis of the total weight of the pet and its container with zone they are travelling within.

Baggage charge examples for total weight and size of a pet and its container within 23kg (50lb) and 158cm (62in):

From Hong Kong to Singapore
Both Hong Kong and Singapore are in Zone 1. Subject to weight system, the charge will be: US$10/kg * 23kg = US$230

From Hong Kong to Frankfurt
The sector in question spans from Zone 1 to Zone 4. Subject to weight system, the charge will be: US$60/kg * 23kg = US$1,380

From Hong Kong to Chicago
For destinations in Americas, charge of checked-in pets is subject to piece system, which will be US$300 in this case.

Baggage charge example for travelling from Vancouver to New York with a pet whose weight and size are 31kg (68lb) and 200cm (79in) respectively:

Piece system will be applied when travelling within Zone 5. As the weight and size of the pet exceed 23kg/158cm, an additional fee will be charged. The total charge will be: US$200 + US$200 (additional fee) = US$400